This invitation, coming as it did from the City Council,
the state officers, and all the substantial citizens
of both races of the community where I had spent my
boyhood, and from which I had gone a few years before,
unknown, in poverty and ignorance, in quest of an
education, not only surprised me, but almost unmanned
me. I could not understand what I had done to
deserve it all.

I accepted the invitation, and at the appointed day
was met at the railway station at Charleston by a
committee headed by ex-Governor W.A. MacCorkle,
and composed of men of both races. The public
reception was held in the Opera-House at Charleston.
The Governor of the state, the Hon. George W. Atkinson,
presided, and an address of welcome was made by ex-Governor
MacCorkle. A prominent part in the reception
was taken by the coloured citizens. The Opera-House
was filled with citizens of both races, and among
the white people were many for whom I had worked when
I was a boy. The next day Governor and Mrs. Atkinson
gave me a public reception at the State House, which
was attended by all classes.

Not long after this the coloured people in Atlanta,
Georgia, gave me a reception at which the Governor
of the state presided, and a similar reception was
given me in New Orleans, which was presided over by
the Mayor of the city. Invitations came from many
other places which I was not able to accept.

Chapter XVII. Last Words

Before going to Europe some events came into my life
which were great surprises to me. In fact, my
whole life has largely been one of surprises.
I believe that any man’s life will be filled
with constant, unexpected encouragements of this kind
if he makes up his mind to do his level best each
day of his life—­that is, tries to make
each day reach as nearly as possible the high-water
mark of pure, unselfish, useful living. I pity
the man, black or white, who has never experienced
the joy and satisfaction that come to one by reason
of an effort to assist in making some one else more
useful and more happy.